Kadiri Ikhana

Former Nigeria international, Kadiri Ikhana has branded Nigeria Football Federation‘s decision to send Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr on refresher course in Germany as a waste of funds.

Rohr has come under heavy criticisms after the Super Eagles 2-1defeat to Algeria in the semi-final of the ongoing African Cup of Nations and many has asked the Nigeria football governing body to give him the boot , irrespective of the outcome of Wednesday’s third place match against Tunisia.

However, the president of the Nigeria football federation , Amaju Pinnick , disclosed on Tuesday that the German will keep his job, but will be allowed to go on a refresher course with German Bundesliga side FC Bayern Munich, immediately after the tournament.

While reacting to Pinnick‘s statement, Ikhana who is a member of the 1980 Green Eagles squad that Nigeria‘s first African Cup of Nations title, said the football authority should have invested the funds into indigenous coaches.

“If you feel Rohr has not done well, why not ask him to leave, that the honourable thing to do,” starts Ikhana.

“But if he has done well, why not, he stays. But sending him on a refresher training is what I cannot fathom out.

“Is it not a waste of resources? We have so many ex internationals in this country who are coaches. Why not send some of them on coaching clinics? After all, when they come back, it will be to the benefit our football generally rather than on a foreigner.“

“I believe the team we took to Egypt was inexperienced, especially at this level. I also believe they come good in future. I don’t blame Rohr for the team’s ouster but you know a coach is said to be as good as his last result.“

“When will our football administrators learn? Football has gone down, so low in this country. It is dead, to say the fact.“

“Why should NFF be talking about spending more money to retrain someone who is on a huge salary? Why not take that money to train some young coaches who will in turn impact their knowledge on the development and improvement of the game in the country?, ”Ikhana concluded.